Construction industry drilled on taxes by Malawi Revenue Authority
Malawi Building and Civil Engineering Contractors and Allied Traders Association (MABCATA) and its members have recently benefited from seven taxation workshop that the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) conducted across the country.
The main objective of the workshops was to explain and clarify taxation issues that affect contractors and also enhance cooperation between the Authority and MABCATA.
Speaking at the start of the workshops in Blantyre, Hilda Mkandawire, Public Relations Specialist, said MRA organized the workshops to clarify taxation issues more specifically relating to Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC), EFD machines and Tevet Levy, among others.
“We decided to hold this workshop to interact with you and also address taxation issues that affect you, contractors, so that you do not find yourselves on the wrong side of the tax laws and be penalized,” Mkandawire said.
She added that MRA cherished the good working relationship that existed between the Authority and MABCATA and assured the participants that MRA will always make sure that contractors have adequate knowledge on their tax rights and obligations.
Taking the contractors through the presentation, Nancy Mwale, Manager Taxpayer Service, drilled the participants through importance of tax registration, types of taxes, EFD machines, Tevet levy, penalties and offences, among other areas of importance.
Speaking on behalf of the participants at some of the workshops, Wickly Mhango, President of MABCATA, thanked MRA Authority for holding the workshops. He also urged his counterparts to always seek guidance from any MRA office whenever they have tax issues to address with the Authority.
“We thank MRA for organizing these workshops. But please, my fellow contractors, make sure you promptly pay taxes and always seek proper guidance from the Authority in order to avoid penalties,” urged Mhango.
A representative from the National Construction Industry Council (NCIC) who graced some of the meetings held in the Southern region, Valentine Mitunda, Industry Liaison Assistant, commended MRA for taking the initiative to hold the workshops and reminded the contractors to ensure that they comply with the tax laws so that the Council can renew their membership without hassles.
The workshops were held in Blantyre, Zomba, Mangochi, Salima, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Karonga and the Authority met 227 local contractors by the end of the exercise.
